I guess nobody has missed that the fuel prices all over the world have raised over the past years. While Americans are crying about the petrol prices, they are in fact facing prices that we had in Europe 5 years ago or even more. Today, we have more than twice the US price and with 70-something kilometers to go to the nicer spots, fuel efficiency has become an important factor when selecting a surf mobile. Space is of course an important factor if not the most important factor. So, where is this post heading?

Well, my Saab 9000 CSE is amazing for packing gear. 4 people with 2-3 kites each, twintips and perhaps a few wavekite boards fits in well along with pumps, harnesses and so on. The car takes roughly 8 liters of gas per 100 kilometers when going 120 km/h. With roof racks, it's closer to 10 ltrs/100 km but since the car itself can swallow so much gear, I seldom use the racks. So what's the problem? The problem is that the car has been rolling for more than 365.000 kms by now and although there's no problems with it, it is just a matter of time before it will give up. It's like with old people being healthy for 90 years and all of a sudden they die overnight.

So: What car should I go for if I want something that will fit about as much as the Saab while using less gas per kilometer?

With a trailer you could get all your fellow unfettered flying tigers to the beach with all their gear @ of somewheres around 500 kilometers per gallon. But you might speak like Elmer Fud after you get there.

have u looked into the sport wagon cars? like the 308 SW or clio/megane estate, not a break but not a regular car eighter....u can have 5 peeps + gears at the rear, cars r around 6.5L/100km with diesel.
in 2010/2010, they should add hybrid motorisation too.

or like said above, vans r the best vehicule for kiteboarders but might suck a lot of gas.....

I have actually looked at the Skoda Octavia Combi with Ethanol-ready engine. Pretty darn uncool car from a surfer's perspective. You are saying that vans are the ultimate surfer cars. I have to agree but that implies that you don't mind paying a smaller fortune for gas each month and that you have a complete disregard of environmental aspects.